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PAC chairman 'disappointed' RTÉ contract report not submitted

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Sean Fleming has said he is "disappointed" that RTÉ has not submitted a report today on controversial contracts at the station.

Sinn Féin's David Cullinane said the issue affected 157 people and if details about the contract policy was not forthcoming, then RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes should be required to attend and explain.

Mr Fleming read into the record a letter from RTÉ, which said a new policy would be in place in the New Year and affected individuals were being contacted individually about the matter.

Mr Cullinane described the letter as "disingenuous" saying he had been contacted by some of those affected at RTÉ who had yet to be approached by management to date.

Deputy Fleming said the PAC would write to RTÉ again to find out what the policy had been and ensure managers "give us the details" about what led to a change in that policy.

He said he wanted to "apologise" for giving the impression yesterday that the full RTÉ report would be available today - but that was what had been expected.

Earlier this year a review of so called 'contracts for service' was undertaken by Eversheds Sutherland solicitors.

NUJ Ireland Secretary Seamus Dooley welcomed the review at the time saying: "The NUJ has long claimed that RTÉ was guilty of breaching the employment rights of workers by forcing them to accept self-employed contracts.

"This was done as a means of avoiding granting workers sick pay, maternity and paternity leave and pension rights. RTÉ has also denied these workers the right of access to trade union representation - even when they sought to challenge their bogus self-employed status."

In a statement, RTÉ said today: "In keeping with the Eversheds Sutherland review, the detailed analysis is continuing.

"This is a complex undertaking, and discussions will commence over the coming weeks. This process will continue into the New Year. A policy has been developed which will take effect in January 2019 and is currently undergoing internal review. It will be shared in due course."

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